By Francis Abedi
PATH Ghana, in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS), has called for intensified public education to raise awareness about hypertension, with a focus on regular blood pressure checks and strict adherence to treatment to reduce the country’s growing disease burden.
The call was made in a press statement issued by Dr. Robert Yeboah, Programme Director for Healthy Heart Africa at PATH Ghana. The statement was released to coincide with this year’s World Hypertension Day celebrations.
According to the statement, an estimated 1.4 billion people aged between 30 and 79 were living with high blood pressure globally in 2024, yet fewer than one in five had the condition adequately under control.
In addition, the statement noted that in Ghana, non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, account for about 42 per cent of all deaths, with the condition affecting approximately 34 per cent of the population.
The release further indicated that although nearly half of people living with hypertension were aware of their condition, only 37 per cent were receiving treatment, and just 19 per cent had their blood pressure under control.
It said the high prevalence of hypertension and related premature deaths underscores the urgent need for stronger national interventions focused on prevention, early detection, and effective disease management.
The statement also highlighted the role of Healthy Heart Africa (HHA), an AstraZeneca Health Equity initiative implemented in partnership with PATH and the Ghana Health Service, in supporting efforts to reduce hypertension through awareness creation, screening, and early diagnosis at the primary healthcare level.
World Hypertension Day is observed annually on May 17 to promote awareness of hypertension prevention, detection, and control worldwide. This year’s theme is: “Controlling Hypertension Together: Check Your Blood Pressure Regularly, Defeat the Silent Killer.”
